German Estates: Rainer Barbi Smooth Apple (AC) (2004) Tobacco Pipe

A beloved master of pipe carving in Germany, and indeed the whole world, Rainer Barbi was the premier pipe artisan during his era. Since his passing in 2011, his prestigious catalog of work continues to be sought after by discerning collectors. Incorporating soft, gestural shaping and crisp elements for which Barbi was known, this bent Apple is a preeminent example of his style. An affably plump bowl displays a subtle, undulating rim from which a vertical ridgeline descends on the left flank, its presence more felt than seen. The gestural shank and stem of more slender dimensions extend and turn upward gradually from a low-set transition that accentuates the bowl's cheeking. A compact pipe, it's wearing a mahogany contrast stain, revealing gorgeous vertical grain on all flanks, a testament to the late carver's keen eye in shaping the block of briar to best show off its grain.